I’m very curious to see how collectors respond to the 6″ Total Heroes line. At a $13 price point, they’re more competitive than most comparable 6″ lines out there. I chose to use Mr. Freeze as the example figure because there’s obviously a lot to like – the details and the metallic blue sheen, for example.

However, the articulation is obviously a step back from DC Universe Classics – there is no biceps swivel or even an elbow ball-and-hinge. I believe the idea behind this line is to try to appeal to both kids/parents (lower price, more stylized and colorful designs) and adult collectors (scale and articulation, character selection). The stylized look also avoids competing with DC Collectibles, who seem to have taken the reigns of producing 6″-7″ “realistic” superhero figures for DC.

I honestly have no idea whether this line will succeed. It’s not compatible with DC Universe Classics and represents a step backward in terms of sculpting detail and articulation. But my hunch is that while many collectors will eschew them at first, as more characters get added they’ll be drawn in by the consistency of style and character selection. And obviously some collectors (Nathan Newell and Phil Reed, for example) may be on board immediately.

Still, let’s all have a moment of silence for the end of DC Universe Classics.

(Also, Dr. Mrs. Ghostal would like to me to mention that Mr. Freeze should be properly addressed as Dr. Freeze.)

New Pre-orders

VOLTRON 30TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTORS SET This set includes all five lions with LED eyes, die-cast and plastic construction, weapons and more, along with a special display base including a key that unlocks sound effects. This set is listed at $224.99.

WARBOTRON WB01-01, 02, 03, 04, 05 These five warrior robots change into a jeep, a tank, a space shuttle, a helicopter and a cannon truck, and can combine into the gestalt Warbotron. The four limb figures are priced at $88.99 each, with the torso figure priced at $118.99.

FT-04 SCORIA This masterful figure changes from 10″ robot to Triceratops, and comes with a sword with a ‘fiery’ translucent blade. He is listed at $199.99.

DC COMICS MULTIVERSE 4″ FIGURES The new assortment from Mattel includes figures from the DC movies. It includes Batman (1989), Batman Unmasked (1989), The Penguin (“Batman Returns”) and General Zod (“Superman II”), and each figure is listed at $9.99.

MARVEL SELECT CAPTAIN AMERICA, FALCON Diamond Select has announced the first two Marvel Select figures from the upcoming “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” film. Captain America and the Falcon each stand about 7″ tall and are each listed at $22.99, $2 off the MSRP.

EAGLEMOSS MARVEL CHESS, FACT FILES, DC SUPERHERO CHESS FIGURE COLLECTION, AUTOMOBILIA This month brings two new Marvel Chess figures – #003 Wolverine White Knight and #004 Loki Black Bishop. Each is listed at $15.99. New Fact Files for this month include #017 Silver Surfer, #018 Hercules, #019 Black Panther and #020 Sentinels, with each priced at $5.99. We have also listed the Special Edition #002 – Wolverine, which is listed at $31.99 and includes a figurine. Firestorm the Nuclear Man is the new White Pawn in this collection, and is listed at $15.99, as is Aquaman’s half-brother Ocean Master, the new Black Pawn. Finally, two new vehicles are on their way – the #028 Batmobile (Catmobile?) from Detective Comics #122, and the #029 Batmobile from Detective Comics #362. Each is listed at $19.99.

GAME OF THRONES ARYA STARK STATUE This tough young member of the Stark family is shown here wielding her sword Needle. The statue stands 11″ tall and is limited to 1250 pieces. We have it listed at $179.99, saving you $45 off of the MSRP.

DOCTOR WHO 3.75″ FIGURE WAVE 01 SET – VARIANT EDITION This set includes recolored versions of the Doctor, Clara, a Cyberman and a Dalek, as well as new head sculpts on both the Weeping Angel and a translucent Weeping Angel. We have them priced at $69.99 for the Set of 6, saving you $14 off of the MSRP.

NEW STAR TREK STARSHIPS COLLECTION – #015, 016 Two new Star Trek starships have been announced. The #015 U.S.S. Equinox NCC-72381 and the #016 Ferengi Marauder are each priced at $19.99 and should measure about 6″ long with display base.

NEW GAME OF THRONES REPLICAS Three new replicas from Jalic have been announced. They include the Catspaw Dagger at $299.99, Robb Stark’s Sword at $259.99 and Robert’s War Hammer at $299.99.

ES ALLOY ES-15: GORDIAN WARRIOR Gordian is also known as Gardian and comes from the early 80’s anime of the same name. The figure consists of three robots with their human pilot; the human gets in the slight-larger-than-human first robot, who can then enter the second, larger robot and then the final largest robot. This set from Art Storm is listed at $154.99.

NEW FUNKO POP ITEMS New Funko Pop! items this week includes Beavis, Butthead, Judge Dredd, Robby the Robot from “Forbidden Planet”, the Iron Giant and Robot B9 from Lost In Space.

ANCHORMAN FIGURES Underground Toys has announced more Battle Ready figures from the movie “Anchorman”. These 8″ figures include Champ Kind, Brick Tamland and Brian Fonatana, and each is listed at $24.99.

NICKTOONS FIGURES Three characters from the Nicktoons line have been announced. 6″ Jimmy Neutron, 6″ Danny Phantom and 6″ Timmy from Fairly Odd Parents are each up for pre-orders, priced at $10.99 apiece.

DRAGONBALL Z REAL WORKS BOXES OF 12 Two new Real Works boxes have been listed. Real Works 02 Buu Edition includes characters like Majin Buu, Son Gohan and Vegetto, and Real Works 03 Cell Edition has Cell, Trunks, Piccolo and more. Each Box of 12 is listed at $69.99, $13 off the MSRP.

GODZILLA 1954 VINYL BUST BANK This bank is sculpted from Godzilla’s original look in the 1954 movie, as if he is wading out of the water. He is listed at $22.99.

NEW DOCTOR WHO PLUSHES Three new items have been announced. The 24″ Talking Burgundy Dalek with LED Light and the 24″ Super Deluxe TARDIS Plush with LED Lamp & Sound FX are each listed at $99.99, saving you $20 each off of their MSRPs; we also have the 15″ Deluxe The Eleventh Doctor Talking plush with LED Light, which is priced at $49.99 ($10 off the MSRP).

DOCTOR WHO: TUMBLING TARDIS TOWER This Jenga-like game has players trying to remove blocks from a stack of blue pieces with TARDISes on the sides, to build the tower higher without toppling it. It is listed at $29.99.

WORKAHOLICS BOBBLEHEADS Comedy Central’s hit show Workaholics has spawned a new line of bobbleheads. Anders, Blake and Adam will each get their own, which are priced at $17.99 each.

MAD ENGINE TANK TOPS Stay Cool and show your fandom at the same time with these new Tank Tops from Mad Engine. We have shirts from Transformers, GI Joe, Star Wars and Marvel listed in sizes from Medium to XXL, and they are priced at $14.99 each.

DEVILMAN STATUES Two new listings from Meister Japan are up for Devilman statues. The Devilman Kijyuu Gehoukai statue is listed at $114.99, and the set of Devilman Kijyuu Gehoukai & Makai Saidan set are listed at $169.99.

New Arrivals

GI JOE 2013 SUBSCRIPTION FIGURES We have received two figures from the new GI Joe Subscription line. Tiger Force Airtight is listed at $39.99, and Tiger Force Shipwreck is listed at $34.99.

TRNS TETRA SQUADRON SET OF 7 For those that have been on the fence about these third party transforming spacecraft, now is your chance – we have bundled all seven into one comprehensive set, and lowered the price to $229.99, saving you $190 off the MSRP.

The idea that this line is somehow a replacement for DCUC is as ludicrous as the idea that they will add enough new characters to make the line interesting to adult collectors. I forsee the release of the JL, the same 5 or 6 villains they do in every line, and 5-10 iterations of Batman.

Staff

Contributors

Poe Ghostal received his first toy, a Mighty Mouse figure, at age three. Thus began a lifelong interest (some might say obsession) with toys. A child of the 1980s, he grew up on Star Wars, He-Man & Transformers toys, as well as more obscure lines such as Power Lords, Robo Force, and Manglors.